Lazio 3-1 Rosenborg: Candreva seals win for 10-man hosts

The hosts took all three points despite Mauricio seeing red after just six minutes with Alessandro Matri and Felipe Anderson also on target

Lazio kept their place at the top of Group G after a thrilling 3-1 victory over Rosenborg in the Europa League on Thursday, having played much of the game with just 10 men.

A first-half goal from Alessandro Matri saw the Serie A side enter the interval ahead, despite Nascimento Mauricio’s early dismissal after just six minutes for a foul on Alexander Soderlund.

Felipe Anderson added a second before the hour mark and, although Soderlund pulled a goal back for the Norweigen side, Antonio Candreva sealed the win 10 minutes from time at Stadio Olimpico.  

Stefano Pioli made four changes from the Lazio side that secured a 3-2 victory over St Etienne as Abdoulay Konko, Danilo Cataldi, Antonio Candreva and Alessandro Matri all returned.

Ronsenborg manager Kare Ingebrigtsen, on the other hand, introduced Mikael Dorsin, Mike Jensen and Yann-Erik De Lanlay in three changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Dnipro at home. 

A near-perfect start for Lazio saw them hit the post twice inside three minutes as Wesley Hoedt crashed a header off the bar from a corner, before Alessandro Mauri hit the upright on the rebound.

Yet within moments they found themselves down to 10 men after Mauricio was handed a straight red card for bringing Soderlund down through on goal when he was last man.

Despite their numerical advantage, the visitors fell a goal down midway through the first-half after Antonio Candreva threaded a pass into Matri, who cut a clinical effort inside the near post.

Rosenborg had been the brighter of the two sides and may have felt unlucky to enter the break a goal behind, with both Jorgen Skjelvik and Soderlund hiting the post.

But they had only themselves to blame in the second half after squandering possession to allow Matri the chance to set-up Felipe Anderson on the edge of the box, who cushioned his shot into the net.

Soderlund pulled one back 15 minutes later with a fine header after a pin-point cross from Skjelvik.

That could have proved the catalyst for a comeback only for De Lanlay to concede a penalty, which allowedCandreva the opportunity to score a third, despite Andre Hansen saving the initial effort.

Rosenborg may have added a consolation goal in stoppage time when Anders Konradsen drew a foul inside the box, yet Soderlund compounded their misery by missing from the spot.